Singeing-machine.



W. W. SIBSON & T. ALLSOP.

SINGEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26, 1909.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ZJwuc wtom W. W. SIBSON & T. ALLSOP.

SINGEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.26, 1909.

Patented Mar. 3, 191.4.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. W. SIBSON & T. ALLSOP.

SINGEING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED MARZG, 1909.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

mums-$115M a.

vwewtom W. SIBSDN 65 T. ALLSOP.

SINGEI'NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..26, 1909.

lsfigwgu Patented Mar,3,1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. W. SIBSON 6; T. ALLSOP.

SINGEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZG, 1909.

Lfi flfi v Patented M21123, 19m.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

. WQ SIBSON & T. ALLSOP,

Patented M21113, 1914.

amvwcom W. W. SIBSON 62 T. ALLSOP.

SINGEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAE.26,1909.

wg wggg Patented Mar. 3, 19M.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

W'ALTEJR, VJ. SIIBSON AND THOMAS ALLSOP, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PHILA-DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATIQN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SINGEING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it. known that we, lVALTna W. Snsson and'llnotras ALLsor, citizens of the United States, residing atPhiladelphia, in the county of. Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful improvements. inSingeing-Machines;and We do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make. and use thesame.

This invention. relates to improvements in singe'ingmachines, and moreparticularly relates to machines for singeing hosiery.

In the art as practised at the present time, great. ditticulty isexperienced in obtaining uniformity in the singed products. This isprimarily due to the fact that the stockings fail to receive uniformexposure to the action of the singeing flames, and, consequently, whilecertain portions of the stockings are eiiiciently acted upon, otherportions fail to receive the same treatment, resulting in scorchedproducts, and preventing uniformity of singeing throughout the gnods iThe mam and primary ob ect of the present invention, therefore, is theprovision of a singeing machine that is so constructed as toovercome theobjections above noted, means being provided whereby as the stockingsapproach the singeing zone movement is imparted to the stockings inorder to ex pus-call the surfacethereof to the singeing tlames, thismovement continuing during the singeing o eration and being separate anddistinct f i'om the movement of the stockings incident to their travelto and through the singein flames, whereby all portions of the stockingsare uniformly exposed to the singeing flames but only for such period asto insure ca-rbonizing of the loose fibers without scorching of the bodyof the fabric.

Subordinate to the foregoing, the invention further aims to provide anovel form of burner having n'ioven'ient relatively to the mth of travelof the stockings, the burner being so mounted that the flames meet eachstocking as the latter passes into the singeiug zone, move in unison fora predetermined period with the stocking as it ad- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed March 26, 1909.

vances, whereby to be confined and concen- Paitented Mair. 3, Mitt.Serial No. 485,987.

trated upon the goods, and. then return to meet the next successivestocking as it one ters the. singeing zone, provision being made bywhich to reduce or enlarge-the effective smgeing area of the burner, andthereby adapt it for use with either full-sized stockings, half hose orinfants sizes. By this provision either the entire burner or only aportion thereof may be used in accordance with the sizes of thestockings being operated upon, thus effecting a material saving in thevolume of gas employed at the burners.

A further object of the present invention is to provide, as an adjunctto the singeing mechanism, means by which the stockings, immediatelyafter leaving thesingcing burners, arcsubjected to moistening ordampening, wherebyignition of projecting or raveled ends of threads inthe body of the stockings is prevented, and possibility of tire to themass of the singed stockings, by reason of smoldering stockingsinadvertently entering the mass, is reduced to a. minimum.

The invention also has in View the pro vision of an improved form ofstripper by which.thestockings after being singed, are removed fromtheir supporting forms, the construction of the stripper being such asto avoid streaking or marking the goods in their removal from the.forms.

Having these general objects in view, and others that will appear as thenature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consistssubstantially in the novel construction, con'ibination and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described, illus tratedin the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

While the form of the invention herein illustrated and described iswhat, at the present time, is believed to be a preferred embodimentthereof, it is obvious that the invention is susceptible of variouschanges, and the right is accordingly reserved to 1nodify,'change orvary the invention as falls within the spirit and scope thereof.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a singeing machineconstructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of thepresent invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the point of Viewbeing at right angles to that of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. at is a detail elevation ofone of the burners and its mounting. Fig. 51s a top plan view thereof.Fig. 0 is a detail elevation of the swivel oint employed in connectionwith the burner. Fig. 7 1s a vertical transverse sectional view ofthe'lower end of the burner and its support. Fig. 8 is a detailelevation illustrating the blower and pipe connections t for the burner.this being omitted from the in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a vertical transverseseci tional view of the absorbent pad. its support, and the waterreceptacles for extinguishing the ignited portions of the singedstockings arising during the singeing operation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the baseof the hereindescribed machine, the body portion of which issubstantially circular in form and provided with outwardly-extendingsupporting webs :2 and 3 that project at substantially right angles toeach other from said base,

At substantially the central portion of the base 1 a conical supportingsocket t is ar ranged, and seated in said socket is averticallymlisposed standard To the upper portion of the standard 5 asubstantially Y- shaped horizontally-disposed yoke (3 is connected. thefree ends of the divided portion of said yoke receiving the upper endsof a pair of parallel vertically arranged stay rods 7 the lower ends ofwhich are seated in sockets S at the outer end of the supporting web 2.It will thus be seen that the base 1, the standard 5, the yoke t3, andthe stay rods 7 constitute substantially the entire frame work of themachine. and by reason of the connection of the yoke t) with thestandard 5 and stay rods 7. a rigid structure is provided.

Seated upon the socket 4. and surrounding the lower end of the standard5 is a bushing 9, and immediatelyabove said bushing 9 is arranged'aneccentrically-mounted hub 10 above which is located aradially-projecting bearing arm 11, the purpose of which will presentlyappear. The hub 10 and arm 11 surround the standard and arranged insuperimposed relation to these elements is -a table 12, the latter beingmounted for rotary movement upon the standard and suitably securedagainst vertical movement thereon.

The table '12 is provided at its periphery with a series ofvertically-disposed sockets 13 each of which receives a shaft 14 thatprojects from the lower end of a stocking supportor form 1:). Withineach end of each socket 123 is formed a race-way 16 to receiveanti-friction balls 17. and cooperating with said balls are bearingcones 18, the cone atthe lower end of each of the shafts 14 beingadjustable thereon and held in place through the medium of lock nuts 19.Therefore, it will be seen that provision is made for adjusting thecones 18 with respect to the ends of the sockets 13, which permits wearin the hearings to be readily compensated for, thus insuring properoperation of the stocking forms 15. These forms may be of any suitablematerial, but they are preferably tapered from their lower to theirupper ends, whereby, when a stocking is placed thereon. the 'entirestocking, including the toe portion, will be distended sutli ciently ,topermit the singeing flames to readily enter the interstices of thefabric and carbonize the loose fibers. As will be observed, the supports15, by reason of the ball bearings which are provided, will freelyrotate upon the table 12, the purpose of which will presently appear.

.-\rranged at one side of the supporting table 12 and in a position tofreely act upon 1 the stockings as the latter are carried by thesupports 15 during the rotation of the table is the mechanism forsingeing these stockings. This comprises a plurality of burners, thenumber, however, of'which is dependent upon the amount of singeing thatis required of the machine. In the presentembodiment of the invention,two of these burners are employed, but it is obvious that if the demandsare such as to require more or less the same can be provided inaccordance with such demands. Each of the burners in question is ofidentically the same construction, and that they may be held inpropel-relation to the table 12 and its supports, a supplementalhorizontally-disposed Y-shaped yoke 20 is employed, the inner end ofthis yoke being connected to the upper end of the standard 5, while theouter end thereof supports a pair of adjustable connecting sleeves 21 inwhich the upper portions of the burners are positioned. By theadjustment of the connecting sleeves 21. the burners may be moved towardand away from the supports 15, and thus the singeing flames may beprojected against the stockings carried by said forms at differentpoints removed therefrom in accordance with the conditions under whichthe stock ings are being singed. For supporting the lower ends of theburners the base 1 is provided with vertically-adjustable holders .22that include laterally-adjustable arms 23, and in the outer ends of saidarms are arranged set screws 24: for engagement with the lower ends ofthe burners. This engagement is clearly illustrated in Fig. T. whereinit will be seen that the screws 24 are received by plugs 2.). carried bythe. burners. and by which the burners are mounted to swing in the areof a circle the center of which is. constituted by said screws 24. Bythe adjustability of the 1&304085 holders 22 in a vertical line, andalso in a lateral direction by the arms 23, it is possible to raise orlower the burners, and also move the lower ends thereof in consonancewith the movement of their upper ends, when the latter movement iseffected by the connecting sleeves 21. I

The numeral 26 designates the burner tube, this being provided withsuitable perforations in a vertical line, whereby to permit escape ofthe gaseous. fuel, and said tube has mounted thereon a longitudinallyextending shield 27, whereby to confine the singeing flames at the edgeof said tube that is immediately contiguous to the supports 15 in theirtravel past said tube. F urthermore, the upper end of the burner tube 26is provided with a horizontally disposed deflector 28, whereby thesingeing flames at the top of the tube will be directed upon the upperend of the supports 15 and the toe portion of the stockings thereat, sothat these particular portions of the stockings will receive fulltreatment during the singeing operation. The tube 26 is connected by endbranch pipes 29 and an intermediate branch pipe 30 with a supportingtube 31, and said tube 31 is provided at a point below the intermediatebranch 30 with a suitable valve 32, whereby to control flow of the gasto the lower end of said tube 31.

As before premised, it is one of the objects of the present invention toprovide means by which to reduce or enlarge the effective singeing areaof the burner tube. 26, so that an economical use of the gas may beobtained when singeing different sizes of stockings. This isaccomplished by arranging in the burner tube 26, and at a point belowthe connection of the intermediate branch 30, a plug 33 through themedium of which the burner tube 26 is divided into upper and lowercompartments to which the flow of the gas is controlled by the valve 32.Hence, when it is desired to singe full length stockings it is obviousthat the valve will be open so that the gas may enter both ends of theburner tube 26, and thereby establish singeing flames throughout thelength of said tube. If, however, the singeing to be done is inconnection with either half hose or infants stockings, requiring,obviously, the use of only a portion of the burner tube, the valve 3:2is closed, thus confining the gas to only the upper portion of the tube26, so that the singeing flames will only appear at that porlion of thetube 26 above the plug 33.

By referring to Fig. 8 the arrangement for mixing the gas with theproper quantity of air, and projecting the admixture under pressure atthe burners will be seen. In the figure referred to a pump 34- isillustraled. which may be of any suitable type, said pump beingen'iployed for forcing the mixing T"s ll, preferably-in the naturaltendency and 30, an even air under pressure, and the discharge of saidpump is connected to an air pipe 35 the terminal of which is providedwith 0ppositely-projecting branches 3-6 in each of which included acontrolling valve 37. The numeral-38 designates a gas supply pipe, alsoprovided at its terminal with opp'ositely-p1'ojecting branches 39, ineach of which is included a controlling valve 4 0, and said branches 36and 39 discharge into form of that are connn'on'ly employed, whereby theair and gas are brought into intimate contact with each other. Each ofthe Ts 41 is connected to one of the supporting tubes 31,

It has been previously indicated that the burners are mounted to swingin the arc of a circle, and to permit this, without cutting ofi' theflow of the gas to the-tubes 31 from their respective gn-ixing devices,each of the tubes 31, at its upper end, is provided with a coupling 4:2having a flared mouth 43 which receives a conical bushing 44 that ismounted upon a stem l5 and yield-inglyh-eld by a coil spring -16 thatsurrounds said bushing and is interposed between the conical portionthereof and the mouth of the mixing T. It will thus be seen that thesupporting tube 31 is perfectly free to be swtmg in the mannerpreviously mentioned, and said coil spring 46 permits verticaladjustment of the burner without impairing the joint between the tube 31and the mixing T to which it is connected.

In the arrangement above described, it to be observed that the mixing Ts4 1 are ejectors connected to the upper ends of the support- This is ofimportance. The of gas is to rise, and if fed into the lower ends of thetubes 31. the sii-igeing flames would be most intense at the upper endsof the burner tubes 26. Howing tubes 31.

ever, by forcing the singeing agent into the upper ends of the tubes 31,and into the burner tubes 26 through the branches 29 distribution of thegas is effected, and the tendency of the gas to rise with theobjectionable results above stated is counteracted.

As before stated, the present invention provides means by which each ofthe burn ers moves relatively to the path of travel of the. stockings sothat the flames meet each stocking as the latter passes into thesingeing zone, move in unison with the stock 'ing as it advances, andthen return to meet the next successive stocking it enters the singeingzone. This is the purpose of mounting the burners to swing in the arc ofa circle, and that the burner tubes 26 may be horinally projected towardeach of the stocking supports 15 as the latter advance to the burners,each of the supporting tubes 31 has a retractile spring 47 at its lower'of movement' of said supports.

end, one end of which spring is connected to said tube, and the otherconnected to the arm 23. These springs cause the burners to bepositioned in such vmanner that in the operation of the machine thesingeing flames will meet each of the stockings slightly before thesupport 15 bearing the same arrives opposite the burner tubes 26,

and in order that the burner tubes may follow each of the supports 15,and move in unison therewith, a contact arm 48 is provided at the lowerend of each of the burner tubes 26, which arms project into the path IConsequently, as each support is about to enter the singeing zone thecontact arm i8 of the first burner is engaged by the support 15, and asthe support 15 advances the burner swings therewith and moves about itspivot until the support has advanced to a point where the arm 48 isreleased, whereupon the spring 47 asserts itself and returns the burnerto its normal position, and in the latter the contact arm $8 ispresented for engagement with the next succeeding support 15, thisalternate engagement and release recurring during the rotation of thetable 12.

That there may be uniformity of singeing in the treatment of thestockings, and prevention of scorching of the body of the fabric, it iscontemplated to impart to each of the forms 15 rotary movement as theform isabout to enter the singeing zone. To the accomplishment of thisend the lower end of the shaft 1 1 of each of said forms is providedwith a pinion 4L9, said pinions engaging with a gear 50 that isinountedupon the eccentric hub 10, thereby positioning the gear 50 eccentricallywith relation to the standard 5. Thus it will be seen that a segment ofthe gear 50 lies'in a plane that is substantially coincident with thatoccupied by the inner edges of the pinions 49 as the latter passthroughthe singeing zone, and in this position the pinions tal portion of thegear 50 referred to interengage, the direction of rotation of the gear50 being opposite to the direction of movement of the supports 15, bywhich a whirling movement is imparted to each of the supports 15 untilthe supports move past the last burner, and at this point the pinions 49swing out of engagement with the teeth of the gear 50. This is caused,of course, by the fact that the table 12, which carries the supports 15,is concentric with the standard 5, and while the supports 15 continue intheir movement with the table 12, their rotation ceases when the pinions49 leave the gear 50.

The table 12 and gear 50 opposite directions through a driving shaft areoperated in the medium of 49 and the segmen-i 51 that is journaled insuitable bearings carried by the base 1, one end of said shaft 51 havinga drivin pulley 52, and the other end being provi ed with a bevel pinion53 that engages a horizontallydisposed bevel gear 54: carried by avertically-arranged stub shaft 55. The upper end of this shaft ismounted in the bearing arm 11, and arranged at the upper portion of theshaft 55 is a pinion 56 that engages the gear 50 and imparts rotation tothe latter. Between the pinion 56 and the bevel gear 54 the shaft 55 isalso provided with a spur gear57 that engages a pinion 58 carried by asecond stub shaft 59 that'is parallel with the shaft 55, and which isalso arranged in the bearing arm 11. At the upper end of the shaft 59 apinion 60 is arranged, said pinion engaging a gear 61 that is connectedto the under side of the table 12, and through the medium of which thetable 12 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotationof the gear 50. The near 61 is, of course, concentric with the standard5.

By employing the gearing above described, and the adoption of a spurgear for rotating the supports 15 by engagement with the pinions 4E9carried thereby, there is positive movement of the supports 15 as theyenter and pass through the singeing zone; consequent rotary movement ofthe supports 15 is assured during the singeing of the stockings carriedthereby; uniformity of singeing is obtained, and scorching is reduced toa minimum.

In the operation of singeing stockings it frequently occurs thatprojecting or ravele ends of threads become ignited by the singe- 1ngflames. Unless provision is made to extinguish these ignited portions,there is possibility of the mass of the singed stockings becoming fired.As a precautionary measure it has been the practice to dampen the massof singed stockings in order to extinguish the smoldering threads orraveled portions that may This, however, does not insure extinguishingthe ignited stockings. To provide for the immediate extinguishing of anyof the ignited portions after the stockings leave the burners, thepresent invention contemplates dampening or moistening the stockingsbefore the latter are stripped from the supports 15, and for thispurpose an absorbent pad 62 carried by a suitable support 63 is arrangedin proximity to the path of travel of the supports 15. -The pad 62- isofsufficient aera to cover the entire length of the supports 15, and thelatter, with the singed stockings thereon, roll against this pad in therotation of the table 12, so that all portions of the singed stockingsare subjected to the dampening and moistening action of the pad 62. Thatsaid pad may be provided with sufficient moisture for the purposesintended,

liability of inadvertently enter the mass.-

the ends thereof are immersed in water receptacles 64 arranged at thetop and bottom of the support (33, the water being fed to the pad 62capillary attraction. It is, of course, obvious that the pad 62 is butone expedient that might be adopted for effecting extinguishment of theignited portions of the stockings, so that the invention is in no wiselimited to the use of an absorbent pad for this purpose, but otherexpedients may be resorted to and still be Within the scope of theinvention. The arrangement of the pad 62, its support (33 and the Waterreceptacles ($4 is clearly illustrated in Fig. 11.

By referring to Figs. 9 and 10 the means for automatically stripping thestockings from the supports will be clearly seen. 'lhese means comprisea main apron conveyer ($5 and an auxiliary apron conveyor 66, mounted insuch relation to each other that the upper ends of the supports 15 willpass tl'ierebetween. Each of these conveyors is provided at spacedintervals with transversely-extending cleats 67 whereby to engage thestockings upon the supports 15 and draw the same therefrom. The mainco-nvcyer passes over upper and lower drums (-8 and (if), each of whichis journaled in suitable bearings 70 that are adjustably n'iounted uponthe stay rods 7. The upper drum (38 is dished. and thereby prevents theconveyer ()5 passingover the ends thereof. Cooperating with the conveyer(35 is a tension roll 71 that is also mounted in suitable bearings 72adjustably arranged upon the stay rods 7. This roll may be employed toregulate the slackness of the conveyer 65. but is primarily designed toimpart to the upper portion of the forward reach of said conveyor acertain degree of inclination, and thus guide the singed stockings in adownward and forward direction from the machine as the stockings arestripped from the supports 15. To assist in this discharge of the singedstoekiiigs, and also in their stripping from the supports 15, is thefunc lion of the auxiliary conveyer 66, which latter works upon upperand lower rolls 72 and '73, the former being mounted in adjustablebearings 74 carried by the yoke 6, and said conveyer ()(3 is positionedin the divided portion of the yoke 6, being arranged in inclinedrelation to the supports 15, and engaging the upper ends thereof. Bymeans of this arrangement the conveyer (3G initiates movement of the-toeportion of the stocking from each of the supports 15 as the lat terenter between said conveyors. and the rear reach of the conveyor (35,moving in an upward direction, acts to draw the leg portion of thestocking upwardly on the supports 15. As the stocking passes from theupper end of the support the conveyor (36 directs the same forwardlyonto the conveyer 6'5, and the stocking follows the latter and isdischarged 'from the machine in the manner previously described.

In order that the rear reach of the conveyer (55 may properly act uponthe leg portion of the stockings a presser plate 75 is employed, saidplate being pivoted at its upper end to a suitable support 76 that isadjustably mounted upon the stay rods 7. Arranged at the lower end ofthe plate is a spring 77 that exerts its tension totorcc said plateagainst the rear reach of the conveyer, and thus force the latter intocontact with. the stockings on the respective supports. and said spring77 is received by a socketed supporting arm 78 that is adjustablymounted upon one of the stay rods 7.

The conveyers 5 and 0 are operated by pulleys T9 and 80. receiving theirpower from any suitable source.

In the operation of the herein described nnlchine. rotation is impartedto the shaft 51. and through the connecting gearing described the table12 is caused to rotate in a direction to pass the supports 15successively to and past the singeing burners,-

simultaneously with which rotation the gear 50 operates in a reversedirection. An operative or operatives positions the stockings upon theseve al forms as they pass toward the singeing burners. and when thestockings enter the singeing zone the burners are caused to swing upontheir supports in the manner previously described and follow thestocli'ings until the limit of the swinging movement is reached. Duringthis period the singeing flames attack the loose fibers of thestockings, at which time the sup'por 15 are being rotated in the sockets13. there by exposing the entire surface of the stockings to thesingeing flames, the rotary movement being caused by the engagement ofthe pinions 49 with the gear 50. as also previously described. As thesinged stockings pass out of the singeing zone, they are brought intocontact with the absorbent pad 62. and by this contact are rolled alongsaid pad. becoming moistened thereby in order to extinguish any ignitedportions, and after leaving said pad the stockings successively enterthe space between the stripping conveyors 5 and (36. As the contiguousreaches. of these conveyers move in an upward direm tion, the, stockingsare removed from the supports 15, being deflected by the auxiliaryconveyer 66 to the inclined portion of the eonveyer 65. whereby they aredischargedtrom the machine. After leaving the stripper mechanism thesupports 15 receive additional unsinged stockings, and this cycle ofoperations continues.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the present invention providesa machine having means by which the stockings, as they approach thesingeing zone, are caused to move in such manner as to expose all thesurface thereof to the singeing flames, this movement being essentiallyseparate and distinct from the travel of the stockings to and throughthe singeing flames, and through which medium a uniform exposure iseifected without liability of scorching the body of the stockings; thatthe burners of the machine move in relation to the movement of thestockings, whereby the flames meet the stockings and follow the latteras they ad- Vance, thus being confined and concentrated upon the goods,and returning to meet the next succeeding stocking, so that in the operation of the machine the gas employed as the singeing agent is usedwith the greatest degree of'economy; that provision is made forextinguishing any portions of the stockings that may be ignited duringthe singeing operation, thus reducing liability of firing the mass ofsinged stockings to a minimum, and that by the employment of the novelform of stripper streakingor marking of the goods in their removal fromthe supports is avoided, the cleats of the apron conveyers acting uponthe stockings in such manner as to prevent this streaking or markinHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,means for supporting the articles to be singed, means for feeding thearticles relatively to the singeing means, and means for causing thesingeing means to move with the articles during the singeing operation.

2. In a machine ofthe class described, means for singeingthe articles,means for supporting the articles to be singed, means for feeding thearticles relatively to the singeing means, means for causing thesingeing means to move with the articles during the singeing operation,and means for causing relative movement between the articles and thesingeing means while the articles are in the singeing zone.

3. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,means for supporting the articles to be singed, means for feeding thearticles'through the singeing means, means for causing the singeingmeans to move with the article during the singeing operation, and meansfor imparting movement to the articles while in the singeing zone foreffecting uniform exposure of the articles to the singeing means.

4. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,means for supporting the articles to be singed, means for feeding thearticles through the singe ing means, means for rotating thearticlesupporting means during the singeing operation for effectinguniform exposure of the articles to the singeing means, and means forcausing the singeing means to move with the articles during the singeingoperation.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for singeingthe articles,a movable table, supports carried by said table for the articles to besinged, and means for causing the singeing meanszto move with said supports during the singeing. operation.

6. In'a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,a movable table, supports carried by said table for the articles to besinged, means for causing relative movement between the said supportsand the singeing means while the articles are in the singeing zone foreflecting uniform exposure of the articles to the singeing means, andmeans for causing the singeing means to move with said supports duringthe singeing operation.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,a movable table, supports carried by said table for the articles to besinged, means for rotating said supports while in the singeing zone foreffecting uniform exposure of the articles to the singeing means, andmeans for causing the singeing means to move with said supports duringthe singeing operation.

8. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,means for supporting the articles to be singed, said singeing meansbeing mounted to swing in relation to the article-supporting meansduring the singeing operation, and means for feeding the articlesrelatively to said singeing means. 7

9. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing the articles,means for supporting the articles to be singed, sa d singeing meansbeing mounted to swing in relation to the articlesupporting means duringthe singeing operation, means for feeding the articles. through saidsingeing means. and means for causing relative movement between saidsupporting means and the singeing means while in the singeing zone foreffecting uniform exposure of the articles to the singeing means.

10. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing thearticles, means for supporting the articles to be singed, means forfeeding the articles through the singeing means, means for causing thesingeing means to move with the articles during the singeing operation,and means for removing the singed articles from the supporting means.

11. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing thearticles, means for supporting the articles to be singed, means forfeeding the articles through the singei-ng means, means for impartingmovement operation with said to the articles during the singeingoperation for efiectin uniform exposure of the articles to the ingelngmeans, means for causing the singeing means to move with the articlesduring the singeing operation, and means for removing the singedarticles from the supporting means.

12. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing thearticles,means for Supporting the articles to be singed, means for feeding thearticles through the singeing means, and means for moistening the singedarticles after the latter leave the singeing mean to extinguish ignitedportions arising incident to singeing.

l3. In a machine of the class described, means for smgemg the articles,rotatable supports for the articles to be singed, means for feeding thearticles relatively to the;

singeing means, a support arranged in the path of movement of the singedarticles, and a pad carried by said support and upon which said articlesare carried for extingnishing ignited portions arising incident tosmgeing.

14. In a machine of the class described, means for singeing thearticles, rotatable supports for the articles to be singed, means forfeeding the articles relatively to the: support arranged in the singeingmeans, a path. of movement of the singed articles, and an absorbent padcarried by said support and upon which said articles are carried, saidpad beingadapted to receive a suitable medium for extinguishing ignitedportions arising incident to singeing;

15. In a machine of the class described, means for singeingv thearticles, a movable table, supports carried by said table for the withsaid table and movable in a direction reverse to the direction ofmovement of said table, and devices associated with said supports andcooperating with said element to actuate said supports while in thesingeing zone for effecting uniform {exposure of the articles to thesingeing means, said devices being brought into cooperation with saidclementdurlng the movement of said supports through the singeing zone,

16. In a machine of the class described, means for singcing thearticles, a rotatable table, supports carried by said table for thearticles to be singed, a rotatable element associated with said tableand mounted eccentric-ally thereto, said element being rotatable in adirection reverse to the direction of rotation of said table, anddevices associated with said supports and coiiperating with said elementto actuate said supports while in the singeing zone for effectinguniform exposure of the articles to the singeing means, said devicesbeing brought into co- I l l I .the articles with said table elementduring the singeing zone.

17. In a machine of the class described, a table, supports carried bysaid table for the articles to be singed, a burner associated with saidtable, and means for causing relative movement between the table andsaid burner, the latter being mounted to move with each of the supportsas the latter pass the burner, and to return to meet each succeedingsupport as the same advances into the singeing zone. p

18. In a machine of the class described, a table, supports carried bysaid table for to be singed, a burner associated and mounted to swing inrelation thereto, means for causing relative movement between the tableand said burner, means for causing the burner to swing with each of thesupports as the latter pass the burner, and means for causing a positivereturn movement of the burner, whereby the latter is positioned to meeteach succeeding support as the same ad vances into the singeing zone.

19. In a machine of the class described, a table, supports carried bysaid table for the articles to be singed, a burner associated with saidtable, means for causing relative movement between the table and saidburner, a contact: arm carried by the burner for causing the latter toswing with each of the supports as the latter pass the burner, and meansfor returning the burner to a position to meet each succeeding supportas the same advances into the singeing zone.

20. In a machine means for supporting the articles to be singed, aburner associated therewith, means articles to be singed, an elementassociated f or causing relative movement between said supl'iortingmeans and said burner, and a shield associated with the burner for confining'the singcing flames upon the articles as they are presented tothe action of the burner.

21. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner associated therewith, means for causingrelative movement between said supporting means and said burner, and adeflector associated with the burner for directing the singeing flamesupon the articles as they are presented to the action of the burner.

22. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner associated therewith, means for causingrelative movement between said supporting means and said burner, ashield associated with the burner and extending longitudinally thereoffor confining the singeing flames upon the articles as they arepresented to the action of the burner, and a of the class described,

deflector also associated with the burner for directing the singeingflames upon said articles during their presentation to the action of theburner.

23. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner associated therewith, means for causingrelative movement between said supporting means and said burner, andmeans for varying the singeing area of said burner.

24. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner associated therewith, said burner beingdivided into a plurality of compartments, means for controlling the flowof the singeing medium to said compartments, whereby to vary thesingeing area of said burner. and means for causing relative movementbetween said supporting means and said burner.

25. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner associated therewith and comprising asupporting tube and a burner tube connected thereto, said burner tubebeing divided into a plurality of compartments, means for controllingthe flow of the singeing medium to said compartments, whereby to varythesingeing area of said burner, and means for causing relative movementbetween said supporting means and i said burner.

26. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner, adjustable mountings for the ends ofthe burner, whereby the latter may be moved toward and away from saidarticle-supporting means, and means for causing relative movementbetween said sup porting means and the burner during the singeingoperation.

27. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner, adjustable mountings for the ends ofthe burner, whereby the latter may be moved toward and away from saidarticle-supporting means, means for effecting longitudinal adjustment ofthe burner,

and means for causing relative movement between said supporting meansand the burner during the singeing operation.

28. In a machine of the class described.

-means for supporting the articles to .be

singed, a burner associated therewith, means mounted to swing inrelation thereto, means for causing relative movement between saidsupporting means and said burner, means for supplying said burner withthe singeing medium, and a yielding adjustable connection between saidburner and said supplying means to permit swinging of said burner.

30. In a machine of the class described. means for supporting thearticles to be singed, a burner associated therewith and comprising asupporting tube and a burner tube connected thereto. said burner beingmounted to swing in relation to the sup porting means, means for causingrelative movement between said supporting means and said burner, meansfor supplying said burner with the singeing medium, and a yieldingadjustable connection between said supporting tube of the burner andsaid supplying means to permit swinging of said burner.

'31. In a singeing machine, spark extinguishing means, and means formoisteniug said means.

In a singeing machine. absorbent spark extinguishing means, and meansfor moistening said means.

In testimony whereof we aihx our siguatures, in the presence of twowitnesses.

WALTER IV. SIBSON. THOMAS ALLSOP. W itnesses LAUrAno Vmmnnonn, HENRY I.HARPER.

